Transgender women are not permitted to participate in women’s category races in international competitions, including the upcoming UCI World Championships, as UCI has followed other sports in doing so. The World Championships in Glasgow organizers brought up the conflict between British Cycling’s and UCI’s transgender participation policies at the board of directors meeting in May. An action item from the meeting minutes stated, “The Chair to write on behalf of the Board to the UCI President, to note concerns about the lack of alignment on Transgender and Non-Binary participation and the potential impact on the Championships. This correspondence will be copied to the Chair of British Cycling.”
The UCI announced that the Men’s category will be renamed to Men/Open for international Masters competition
The UCI suspension will take effect on July 17 and was justified by the organization as “necessary to take this measure to protect the female class and ensure equal opportunities.” The UCI acknowledges that as scientific knowledge advances, the rules may alter in the future. The UCI specified that “female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.”
The UCI announced that the Men’s category will be renamed to Men/Open for international Masters competitions including Gran Fondo, Gravel, and the Master World Championships, and any athlete who does not match the requirements for participation in women’s events will be accepted without limitation. According to the UCI, the Management Committee had noted the current state of scientific knowledge, which did not confirm that at least two years of gender-affirming hormone therapy with a target plasma testosterone concentration of 2.5 nmol/L is sufficient to eliminate the benefits of testosterone during puberty in men.
The UCI decided to alter its rules during an unusual UCI Management Committee
In an exclusive interview with Cyclingnews in May 2023, David Lappartient said, “Are we able, today, to guarantee fair competition? I can’t answer ‘no,’ but I can’t answer ‘yes’.” In its statement on the ban, the UCI said that “given the current state of scientific knowledge, it is also impossible to rule out the possibility that biomechanical factors such as the shape and arrangement of the bones in their limbs may constitute a lasting advantage for female transgender athletes.” “The UCI would like to reaffirm that cycling – as a competitive sport, leisure activity or means of transport – is open to everyone, including transgender people, whom we encourage like everyone else to take part in our sport,”
UCI President David Lappartient said in a statement issued just as the Tour de France mountain stage began. “I would also like to reaffirm that the UCI fully respects and supports the right of individuals to choose the sex that corresponds to their gender identity, whatever sex they were assigned at birth. “However, it must guarantee, above all, equal opportunities for all competitors in cycling competitions. It is this imperative that led the UCI to conclude that, given the current state of scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality of opportunity between transgender female athletes and cisgender female participants, it was not possible, as a precautionary measure, to authorize the former to race in the female categories.” Following a seminar on transgender athlete participation on June 21, the UCI decided to alter its rules during an unusual UCI Management Committee meeting on July 5.
